Tickets on Sale for Porchlight's ICONS GALA Honoring Ben Vereen and Paul Lisnek

The event will be held Friday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets on Sale for Porchlight's ICONS GALA Honoring Ben Vereen and Paul Lisnek

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre announced last night at Chicago Sings Broadway Pop that the 2023 ICONS Gala, Porchlight's signature fundraising event, will be held Friday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago at Water Tower Place, 160 E. Pearson St. The ICONS Gala features the presentation of the 2023 ICONS Award to the legendary Ben Vereen and the 2023 Luminary Award to WGN's Paul M. Lisnek and also includes a cocktail reception, dinner and song and dance numbers, directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber, highlighting Mr. Vereen's incredible career. Single tickets are $500 and table reservations are on sale now at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org. Sponsorship opportunities are available now. Please contact Development Director Evin Rayford* at evin@porchlightmusictheatre.org for more information.

The ICONS Gala was launched in 2012 and many icons have been honored throughout its history including Hal Prince, Elaine Stritch, Bob Fosse, Ethel Merman and Fred Astaire among others. In 2020, the ICON Award was established to celebrate a notable artist who has made an indelible contribution to American entertainment and has since been presented to living legends Joel Grey, Chita Rivera and in 2022, Donna McKechnie. Porchlight will welcome, in-person, the 2023 recipient of the ICON Award, Ben Vereen, to accept this award.

The Luminary Award is bestowed annually at the ICONS Gala and this year it is presented to Paul M. Lisnek. This honor recognizes an outstanding individual, family or family foundation with a history of philanthropic and volunteer leadership on behalf of Porchlight and music theater in Chicago, and whose generosity inspires others to philanthropic action. Past honorees include Rick and Deann Bayless and the Bayless Family Foundation, Elaine Cohen and Arlen D. Rubin, Jim Jensen, Jean Klingenstein, Dan Ratner and the Ratner Family Foundation.

"Porchlight is looking forward to welcoming Ben Vereen to Chicago to receive the ICON Award which he personifies on so many levels. Mr. Vereen is a living legend who has performed in almost every medium and is a true example of an icon," said Executive Director Jeannie Lukow. "And, Paul Lisnek is someone who has supported Porchlight's productions and performers for years with his interviews, reviews, philanthropic efforts and his presence in the front row at our openings. We are thrilled to present these awards to two people who are so supportive of music theatre."



RELATED STORIES - Chicago

1
Photos: First Look At Music Theater Works PIPPIN, Now Playing Through June 25 Photo
Photos: First Look At Music Theater Works' PIPPIN, Now Playing Through June 25

Music Theater Works second production in its 2023 season, Pippin in the North Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts In Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie,  is now playing through June 25. See photos from the production.

2
DRUNK SHAKESPEARE Workers Successfully Organize with Actors Equity Association Photo
DRUNK SHAKESPEARE Workers Successfully Organize with Actors' Equity Association

The actors, stage managers, bartenders and servers of Chicago’s Drunk Shakespeare have achieved their goal of organizing with Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional performers and stage managers in live theatre.

3
City Lit Names Brian Pastor Executive Artistic Director Photo
City Lit Names Brian Pastor Executive Artistic Director

City Lit Board President Daniel Robinson announced that Brian Pastor (they/them), City Lit’s current Resident Director and for nine years its Managing Director, will succeed City Lit’s Producer and Artistic Director Terry McCabe, who will retire on June 30, 2024, following the conclusion of City Lit’s recently announced 43rd season.

4
The Blues on the Fox Festival Returns This Month Photo
The Blues on the Fox Festival Returns This Month

The Blues on the Fox Festival is back, Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17 at downtown Aurora’s RiverEdge Park, where blues legends and rising stars will live on the banks of the beautiful Fox River.

More Hot Stories For You

and regionstable.regionsid=23 and LOCATE(',', regionsfield) = 0;

Videos


#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Memorial Opera House (7/20-8/06)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Rhythm World 33
The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center (7/16-7/16)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Wiz
Cadillac Palace Theatre (11/28-12/10)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Las Locas Comedy Presents: Locas y Chingonas - Steppenwolf LookOut Series - 06/10/23
Steppenwolf Theater (6/10-6/10)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Elephant & Piggie's
The Marriott Theatre (7/14-8/13)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Esther Povitsky at The Den Theatre
The Den Theatre (10/20-10/21)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# THE PRODUCERS A Mel Brooks Musical
North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (8/10-8/20)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Inclined to Decline
The Rooted Space (7/14-7/15)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Roger McGuinn
Memorial Opera House (8/26-8/26)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Cabaret ZaZou
Spiegeltent – Cambria Hotel (5/02-8/13)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You